USA, OH: Aqueduct Brewing Co. hopes to open later this month in Akron

Akron is getting a new nanobrewery.

Aqueduct Brewing Co. hopes to open later this month in the former Burkhardt Brewing Co. building on Grant Street — the same building now occupied by Thirsty Dog Brewing Co, Ohio.com reported on August 4.

Aqueduct, tucked in a far back corner of the complex, is industrial chic. The small tasting room and brewery has a concrete floor, poured concrete bar, exposed brick and a ceiling fashioned of red tin.

Co-owners Robert Hernandez and Dale Dorn want to create a synergy of sorts with the much larger Thirsty Dog, with craft beer drinkers flowing between the two taprooms. Aqueduct will employ a two-barrel brewing system. In addition to having a tasting room, it will distribute beer to local bars and restaurants.

Hernandez, 42, who lives on Aqueduct Street in Akron and thus the name of the brewery, said the back story for Aqueduct is pretty typical.

He and Dorn started homebrewing. They honed their skills. And now the amateurs are turning professional. “I got tired of cleaning my house after all my buddies left after we were done brewing,” joked Dorn, 43, an Akron police officer.

Hernandez is focusing on the brewery full time.

“It makes no money now, but it’s full time,” he kidded.

Aqueduct will launch with six beers and there are plans for a cider. There will be an India pale ale, stout, chocolate porter, orange coriander ale, honey wit and pilsner.

The brewery tasting room will be open from 4 to 11 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, and noon to 11 p.m. Saturday.

“I’m very excited to get going and get started,” Hernandez said. “Akron is an extremely lucky town that it can support craft brewing the way it has and have so many dedicated craft brewers such as Thirsty Dog and Hoppin’ Frog. It’s phenomenal and it’s going to work well for us.”

06 August, 2014